Reed Panels as Screen Walls and Windbreak for the Balcony, Terrace or Garden
Thanks to their big size, their decorative look and the sound insulation they provide the Hiss Reet panels are the ideal screen wall or wind break for gardens, events or construction sites. As a fence or a screen wall the 2 cm Hiss Reet panels are especially suited. They are a good alternative to fence elements and screen wall screens due to their opaqueness, their big surface, their high stability and their inexpensiveness.
Illustration 1:
Reed panels on a timber construction with a bevelled wooden board as protection against weathering for the edges of the reed panels.
If the panels are used outdoors either as screen wall or as wind break the ends of the panels need special protection against weathering. The easiest way to offer such a protection is using metal sections or timber constructions, which cover the upper end of the panels. To prevent the base of the panel from drawing moisture it should be attached 10 cm above the ground.
Illustration 2:
Frontal shot of the reed panels.
About 12 years ago we built a fence made from reed panels on our premises in Bad Oldesloe. For this fence we used Hiss Reet panels and fixed them to a timber construction (See Illustration 5-7).The reed panels we used still are in excellent shape. After 12 years the panels still show a good texture which is hold by the ties. However, the panel has slightly shrunken in thickness (from 2 cm to about 1.5 cm). The uppermost layer of the reed has changed to a greyish colour and is beginning to decompose as a result of physical ageing. Although the panel has turned grey all over it still makes a good impression.
Illustration 3:
Close-up: After 12 years the weather
starts to leave its mark.
Illustration 4:
Fence in a park made of reed panels.
If the Hiss Reet panels are used as a screen wall it is advisable to use a solid supporting structure. A long-term solution would be a metal supporting structure. In our example the reed panels were fixed in aluminium sections and screwed to common steel piles. As an additional reinforcement against bending and because of the big distance between the piles metal pipes have been fitted on the back side of the fence.
Illustration 5:
To fix the reed panels and to reduce the effects of premature weathering on the ends of the stalks special sections have been prepared. First, the panels were inserted into the sections, then the sections were screwed to the steel piles.
Illustration 6:
The joints of the sections are expertly riveted together. The abutting panels were joined with a plastic-sheathed wire.
Illustration 7:
The fence has been fixed at some distance from the ground so that the moisture cannot promote the rotting process.
With a bit of skill you can easily use the Hiss Reed panels as garden fence. Another option is to cut the Hiss Reet panels in two and use them as screen walls for the balcony or the terrace.
Illustration 8:
The panels are flexible so that they can be easily used for the construction of rectangular corners.
